Cyclist spreads message

Tour de France veteran cyclist George Hincapie reminded everyone Saturday who the real inspiration is -- everyday people who endure and fight cancer on a daily basis.

The 36-year-old Greenville resident toured the cancer ward at Trident Medical Center in advance of riding in this morning's second annual Jerry Zucker Ride for Hope, a fund-raiser for the LiveStrong Lance Armstrong Foundation and numerous local cancer charities.

Hincapie noted the importance of hearing stories of people who are fighting for their life, such as 29-year-old Summerville resident Michelle Kelley, who had a bilateral mastectomy in November 2008 but whose breast cancer metastasized to her bones this year.

"I'll always have to take chemo and radiation here and there. It's never going to go away. It's more of how will I last," said Kelley, who walked in last weekend's Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure before suffering from a clot this week. "I'm not even 30 yet. I have three kids and they are all little ... I'm hanging in there. I'm feeling better. I'll see how the rest of the day goes."

Hincapie said, "They (cancer patients and survivors) are all very inspiring and give us a purpose on why we go out there -- in my case, to ride a bike -- and try to raise money for the local cancer community."

As an active competitor who recently signed a new, two-year contract with the BMC race team, Hincapie does most of his charity work in the off-season of October to January.

At 36, he said he still hungers to achieve some cycling goals, primarily winning the prestigious Paris-Roubaix race and another stage in the Tour de France.

"I said two years ago that I was going to do two more years and then stop for sure, but here I am signing another two-year contract. I think I'll stop after two more years, but if I'm in the same shape and have the same enthusiasm for the sport, I'm sure I'll continue" said Hincapie.

"I'm excited. It's a new team ... We hope to get a spot in the Tour de France. It would be my 15th Tour de France, which not many riders have ever done. I'd love to be able to compete in another one."

Hincapie admits that he has not spent much time in the Lowcountry, but that he plans to come back more often. One of his best friends, Scott Hirshorn, moved from New York City to downtown Charleston in December 2008 and opened Jones Trading, an equity trading desk based out of Fountain Walk.

Both Hincapie and Hirshorn envision helping to promote cycling, not just competitive cycling, in the Palmetto State in the future.

Hincapie said, "I really want to spread the message about how great the riding is here in South Carolina with the flat riding here on the coast and the mountains where I live in Greenville."